breeze

07:22 A.M.

Arizona Manor, North Rockbrook, County of Toron

Ahem...

Letter for you, Miss Grace.

Miss Grace is changing.

She's been sneaking out almost every day while her parents are away. Shouldn't we do something?

Well, you could start by chopping down the tree outside the window. If you expect me to do something about it through her clothes though, I assure you I've tried everything.

I haven't seen you try <i>anything</i>.

Perhaps you should see an eye doctor then, Mr. Counsell.

Letter for you, Miss Grace.

Leave it on the table.

Aren't you going to read it?

No need. I can more or less guess what it's about.

The typical greeting, then asking after my parents, then regretfully declining my request with some excuse or other...

The young Vulpo sits before the dresser, dolefully fidgeting with the receiver in her hands, the indicator light on it flashing red.

She would have been overjoyed if it had flashed yesterday, or the day before.

*sigh*...

Maybe I shouldn't be wasting my time writing these letters or reading the responses.

When will Father and Mother return? I should be ready to greet them.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry! We were so busy downstairs that I forgot to tell you.

His Lordship sent word that he and Her Ladyship have been invited to a bookstore's opening ceremony. A well-compensated appearance, I'm told.

He would have been better off using his pen name. No doubt it's worth even more than the title of Baron Arizona.

Well, he used to write some awfully cynical things under that name, so he stopped using it once he became <i>The Right Honourable Henry Arizona</i>.

Better safe than sorry, after all. Who knows how many nobles were involved in what he criticized?

So he gets to choose his identity, while I'm forced to accept the life he decided for me.

Wait, so how long is this delay?

A day.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think that grin meant you were planning to sneak out again.

Sorry, I just remembered something urgent!

Miss Grace!

07:51 A.M.

Temporary accommodation site, Rockbrook outskirts, County of Toron

Near the forests, where civilization meets wilderness, a group of despondent people have been abandoned.

The wet morning mist fades away, and the sun's rays shine into the dark grey forest.

Guys, I'm back!

You again? What is it this time? Like this place isn't messy enough already.

Do you remember the health information I asked you for last time?

Right, <i>four days</i> ago. Haven't seen your face since.

Well, I couldn't get back to you because—

Because we couldn't hold up our end of the deal? You wanted information on Marianne, and you thought we were hiding something, so you left us hanging to see if we'd loosen our tongues.

Settle down, friend. She's not your foreman, she's just a little girl. Why would she be playing tricks like that?

Don't judge a book by its cover. Who knows what lies beneath the surface?

You <i>do</i> owe us an explanation though, young Vulpo. Why did you need our health information?

Like I said, I asked many doctors, and only one didn't reject me out of hand.

He said if I got your personal information—to learn more about your health—then he could come and help.

Unfortunately, he was out when I brought him the data, and hasn't been back to his office in a few days...

What a coincidence!

Let her finish.

...So all I could do was wait, and keep searching for another way.

I did place a transmitter on the door to his clinic though, so I'll get a signal when he opens it! Look, this red light has been blinking since morning.

What are you doing here then? Shouldn't you be off looking for him?

I wanted to get updated information, since I'm not sure if the reports from four days ago are still recent enough... I don't know much about this, I just thought it would be safer this way.

Pull the other one. You only wanted news about Marianne, you never really cared about us. Why should we trust you?

I—

You don't need to answer him. He's still under the delusion that the <i>nobles</i> will come and help us.

Phooey! Of course they will! They just don't know about our situation yet.

Marianne's been missing for quite some time. No matter how much effort you devote to helping us, we can hardly conjure her out of thin air.

I know that. I'm not too worried about her. It's more important to focus on the here and now.

She's a child, same age as you. Who knows what could happen in the forest?

I knew her before I moved here, and we used to sneak out and play together. She loves plants, and there are enough in there to keep her from going hungry at least.

Her first letter asked me to take care of you, and I'd rather she not nag me when she gets back, so...

Well, no matter what anyone else says, I'm on your side. I'll help you persuade them too, if it comes to it.

Thank you.

Why don't you start your info gathering with me then? I need to go cut some wood once we're done here.

What for?

We want to build a bigger house, to fit everyone. Things will get better.

Yes, they will.

01:32 P.M.

Siew Clinic, Rockbrook, County of Toron

An old office lies near the town walls. Grace was last here four days ago, and the dust in the corner has only grown thicker since then.

The windows are covered in grime. They once faced the entire town; now, the melody of industry converges on the west ones only.

A small man sits before the table, muttering in some foreign tongue peppered with a few Victorian words.

The bill...

The bill...

The bloody bill!

Ahem—

We're booked for today.

I got what you asked for.

The doctor looks up with a start. The frames of east windows cast long, trapezoidal shadows.

A Vulpo stands at his door, her golden hair glittering in the sun.

You...?!

Here. I've organized them.

...You really did it.

How did you compile these reports? You're just a child.

I have some medical books at home. I like to flip through them whenever I get grounded.

Just for reference, though. I'm sure there are still plenty of mistakes.

Well done... Well done indeed...

Your turn.

About that...

I have to visit the Pelham Manor today. Can we talk about this after I get back?

The name Pelham strikes Grace like a bolt of lightning.

An ominous sign.

Why?

My patients <i>do</i> expect me to visit them.

I meant, why do I have wait until after you visit her?

So... this really is about her?

You're not her private doctor. She lives in the nomadic city, only visiting here once a month to supervise the factory. Why does everyone do as she says?

It's not that simple.

You're under her thumb. Just like everyone else.

She doesn't control me.